Centennial Elementary School
Shannon Ritter, Principal
December 2020
Hello Families ~
If you have not had a chance to read the Spotlight on Success sent out from the OSD Communication Department, please take a moment to read the second article, which highlights our very own Counselor, Mrs. Norelius. Although she is speaking about her experiences as a World Class Athlete, her philosophy and lessons learned are perfect for these challenging times. She talks about “the importance of focusing on a team” and that “life is a team sport”. Now more than ever, those words ring true. Distance Learning has been incredibly challenging yet we have found ways to make the best out of this very difficult situation. I wholeheartedly believe that is the case at Centennial because our community has come together as a team to navigate these last several months. Thank you for your collaboration. Thank you for adjusting your work and home schedules. Thank you for showing kindness and compassion. Thank you Team Centennial!
As we head into the last bit of 2020 (can we just be done with this year please!) I am sure many of us have begun reflecting on the year… the good, the bad and the ugly! This year has sent us on a rollercoaster of emotions with some highs and many lows. While it is certainly not the same as being able to visit classrooms in person, the work of our staff and students is most definitely one of the best parts of this rollercoaster for me. This past almost year now has not been easy and has taken a lot of grit and perseverance by us all, but I continue to be incredibly grateful and proud of our school community.
Last, a few nuts and bolts:
December Packet Pick-up dates:
o Thursday 12/3: 8:00 - 9:00 and 11:30 - 1:00 and 5:00 - 6:00
o Friday 12/4: 8:00 - 9:00 and 11:30 - 1:00
o Thursday 12/17: 8:00 - 9:00 and 11:30 - 1:00 and 5:00 - 6:00
o Friday 12/18: 8:00 - 9:00 and 11:30 - 1:00
Soup and Macaroni and Cheese Drive during 12/3 & 12/4 Packet Pick-up
o Thank you for the generous donations in November! We sent 25 very full boxes to the Thurston County Food Bank.
Pajama Day and Winter Friday Sing: Friday, Dec. 11th @ 9:00 am
o Please use one computer per household to help with streaming
MOD Pizza Take-out or Delivery- Booster Club Fundraiser - Sunday, 12/13 from 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Please take time to unplug over the break and focus on what makes you happy. As always, thank you for partnering with and sharing your students with us!
Science Fair: ‘Race into Action: Taking Care of Our Natural World’
Coming January 20-21, 2021 is the CES Virtual Science and Engineering Fair! Intro to the CES 2021 Science Fair: https://youtu.be/vAssWL7f1o0.
This year we have several community scientists coming to us over video to share brief science lessons just for Centennial stars for taking care of our local environment. We have so many volunteers lined up including a Mt. St. Helens Park Ranger, a local marine biologist, a local beekeeper, a local wastewater specialist, an astronomer sharing videos of light pollution, and several more! (If you are a community scientist that would also like to record a lesson or share a passion, please reach out to Mrs. Knight!)
Classroom teachers will have asynchronous videos planned out those two days and synchronous discussions and activities that week for all K-5 students! In addition to the learning we will do together, all students are encouraged to do a fun science project, experiment or engineering demonstration that will be shared on Flipgrid this year (upload any time before January 20th).
Scientific projects should follow the scientific method and test a hypothesis, starting with a problem (environmental problems are encouraged but not required). Engineering projects must identify a problem and design a solution that could take the form of a drawing, a model, writing or using a program. Students may work by themselves or as a team, even with siblings! Display boards are an option, but remember there are many creative ways to share your project on Flipgrid!
If you need help with a project, here are some websites that may help:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-projects
https://www.education.com/science-fair/
https://www.need.org/need-students/science-fair-projects/
Mrs. Knight will share an introduction video with all students and teachers in early December. If supplies are needed, please contact Mrs. Knight and she will arrange that with a December packet pick-up for your child. Contact her at [email protected] with any questions. (FYI, The South Sound Regional Science fair is virtual next year (March 2021) and can be found here. The regional science fair is required if you want to submit a project to the state fair.)
Mark your Calendar: Take-Out and Delivery Fundraiser!
Sponsored by the Centennial Booster Club
When: Sunday, December 13, 2020 10:30 am - 10:00 pm
Where: MOD Pizza at 5128 Yelm Hwy SE, Suite A Lacey, WA
Why: Yum - pizza! MOD Pizza will be donating 20% back to Centennial Booster Club!
How: You can participate in this fundraiser by ordering take out, delivery or pick up
Important: Please read the instructions below, so that MOD Pizza knows you are with the GroupRaise Meal for Centennial Elementary School, and our Booster Club will get 20% of your meal’s price donated back!
Restaurant Website:
Visit MOD Pizza's online order website. Use the coupon code of "GR169243C" and 20% of your meal’s price will be donated back to Centennial Elementary School’s Booster Club.
Storefront Walk-in:
Visit the location at 5128 Yelm Hwy SE, Suite A, Lacey 98503 and they will take your order from their storefront for take-out. Mention that you are with Centennial Elementary School before placing your order.
A Guide to OSD Schoology Parent Access
Click on the following link to go to the OSD web page with information for families about Parent Access to Schoology. https://osd.wednet.edu/departments/technology/schoology_for_parents
This guide is intended to help you learn how to navigate around Schoology.
What Is Schoology? OSD teachers may choose to use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; provide a safe forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized and it keeps the class connected.
With Schoology Parent Access, parents/guardians will be able to:
· View their own child(ren)’s courses and groups
· View their own child(ren)’s profile, including blog, portfolio and badges
· View their own child(ren)’s Schoology calendar to see assignments and events
· View their own child(ren)’s activity in courses or groups
· View teacher provided materials, posts, and comments in their own child(ren)’s courses
· View media albums
· View tests/quizzes if they are visible to students
· Sign up to receive a daily or weekly emailed report of their child(ren)’s work in Schoology
· Sign up to receive notifications if an assignment is overdue
Classroom Packet Pick-up --Mark your calendars!
Distribution dates:
Instructional materials aka “packets” are available for pick-up every two weeks. Completed packets can be turned back in when you collect the new packets. Make sure your child’s name and teacher is on the packet. Drive to the Bus Loading Zone to pick up items on these days and times.
December 3 & 4
December 17 & 18
- Morning pick-up time 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (Thursday and Friday)
- Lunch time 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Thursday and Friday)
- Evening 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Thursday only)
Change in Morning Distribution Hour starting January 2021
January 14 & 15
January 28 & 29
- Morning pick-up time 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (Thursday only) -change due to low turn out to pick up at the previous time)
- Lunch time 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Thursday and Friday)
- Evening pick up now 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Thursday only)
CES Library Books
Do you need a new book to read? Try our library’s Books to Go – Your, to-go library service! View the slide show by clicking on the link below or visit Mrs. Slater’s Schoology page under “Books to Go”.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UZusfVh6dMt_eP26yXOxjQCy1f-qJQt7UnGBicp7lt4/edit?usp=sharing
Books need to be placed on hold. See the Books to Go link above to walk you through the process. When the books are ready for pick up, an email will be sent to you with the date you can pick them up. Walk around to the back of the school to the backdoor entrance of the library, to pick up your books. The library back door is across from the three portables, behind the school. Follow the signs.
Put Memory to Work
Many card games build working, or short-term, memory. This kind of memory lets your youngster remember and use information he learned recently. Play Go Fish or Crazy Eights together. By keeping track of which cards have been played, your child will make better moves! Home & School Connection, December 2018
Booster Club’s Yearbook Committee
Continue to send your great pictures of your children studying, participating in the virtual activities participating in Friday Sing, participating in PE, working on a school project or any Spirit Day pictures etc. to our Booster Club’s coordinator Thuy at [email protected].
Frosty Science
With this experiment, your child can see frost and learn why people sprinkle salt on icy sidewalks and roads.
· How? Have your youngster rinse out two empty soup cans, remove the labels, and fill each can halfway with ice. She should stir 1 – 4 cup salt into just one can and set both cans aside.
· What happens? After 10 minutes, she’ll notice frost on the “salty can” and water on the other one.
· Why? Salt lowers the melting point of the ice, so the “can” with salt got colder than the other can. When water in the air condensed onto the cans, it froze into frost on the one with salt. That is why salt is useful in winter—it melts snow and ice, making it safer to walk or drive. ♥ Home & School Connection, December 2018
Upcoming Events
DATE
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EVENT
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12/11
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Winter Friday Sing – Zoom at 9:00 a.m.
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12/11
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PJ Day
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12/13
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Booster Club’s MOD Pizza Fundraiser 10:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
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12/21-1/3
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Winter Break
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1 / 4
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First Day Back to School – Remote Learning
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1/18
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No School - Martin Luther King Jr Holiday
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1/20-21
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CES – Virtual Science Fair
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OSD 2020-21 Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Olympia School District will provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs will be free from sexual harassment. Auxiliary aids and services will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, reports of alleged sexual harassment, concerns about compliance, and/or grievance procedures:
· Autumn Lara, Executive Director of Elementary Education, [email protected] (360)596-8534
· Ken Turcotte, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator, [email protected], (360) 596-7530
· Michael Hart, Title IX Officer, [email protected], (360) 596-8545
· Scott Niemann, Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, [email protected], (360) 596-6185. All four individuals may also be contacted at 111 Bethel Street N.E., Olympia, WA, 98506.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Winter Break!